Catholic Official Identifies Common Causes With LDS Church

[Art321]

On Tuesday students, faculty and members of the Provo community filled the Marriott Center at BYU to hear Francis Cardinal George present a message entitled “Catholics and Latter-day Saints: Partners in the Defense of Religious Freedom.”

Francis Cardinal George is President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and holds the highest position in the Catholic Church in the United States. He addressed three main points: the fight for religious freedom as defined by Catholic views, managing current threats in society, and ways in which Catholics and the LDS church have stood together.

“I thought it was really cool that someone from the Catholic Church would make these comments after something like prop 8 in defending morals and family,” said Connor Clark, BYU student from Minnesota. “It’s what we need in society; to come together and defend what’s right even with our religious differences.”

At the beginning of the meeting the audience stood to recite the Lord’s Prayer, a tradition in the Catholic faith. George then proceeded to talk about the history of religious freedom and the focus of the family.

“It was interesting to see the catholic position on defending religious freedom,” said Rachel Mahrt, BYU student from Phoenix Arizona.

He then addressed the current threats growing in our society: health-care with regards to abortion rights and human sexuality or gay and lesbian relations.

“Everyone should be cared for,” George said. “It’s very hard to just be a moral voice in the world we live but, we can’t give up.”

He mentioned the laws governing a woman’s right to choose and the moral implications of such a choice. He mentioned the common belief we share on the subject of sexual orientation in that everyone is made in the image of God and loved by him but that it is the relationship of these individuals in question not the individuals themselves.

“We and you are involved in a number of disputes,” George said.

His final point regarding the relationship between Catholics and the LDS Church as defenders of religious freedom was one of great hope and thanksgiving.

“I thank God for the harmony that has grown between us,” George said. “We can and should stand as one in defense of religious liberty.”

The defense of religious liberties affirms what is deepest in our beliefs. It’s going to take good people making good choices and commitments that will in turn benefit the good of society and make a kinder world.

“We become true blessings to one another,” George said. “Our collaborative efforts will, if we stay together, in the end bear much fruit.”

Source: utahpeoplespost.com/news/byu/2980/catholic-official-identifies-common-causes-with-lds-church